DRC Aims to Finalize Major U.S. Minerals Deal by End of June
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is working to finalize a major minerals agreement with the United States by the end of June, aiming to boost investment in its mining sector and gain diplomatic support in ending a Rwanda-backed rebellion in the country’s troubled eastern region.
The agreement is seen as part of Washington’s broader effort to reassert its presence in Congo’s mining industry, which has been heavily dominated by Chinese interests over the past two decades.
The DRC is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper, coltan, and other critical minerals vital to green energy technologies and global supply chains.
In recent years, China has built a deep presence across all levels of the DRC’s mining sector, from small-scale artisanal operations to large industrial firms like CMOC.
A major milestone was the 2008 minerals-for-infrastructure agreement signed between Beijing and Kinshasa, which cemented China’s influence in the country.
Congo’s Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, said a partnership with the U.S. would help diversify the DRC’s strategic alliances and reduce its reliance on Chinese firms for mineral development.
The proposed deal also includes the potential for regional collaboration on mineral export and processing, including with neighbouring Rwanda.
While Rwanda has long been accused of benefiting from the smuggling of Congolese resources such as gold and coltan under the cover of regional instability, its government denies involvement in backing rebel groups like M23 and claims it is acting in self-defence.
Sources close to the negotiations suggest that Rwanda sees the U.S.-DRC talks as an opportunity to legitimize its involvement in the regional mineral trade and attract investment into its own metals processing sector.
However, Congolese officials maintain that any future regional cooperation must be contingent on the restoration of territorial control, particularly in areas like Goma and Bukavu, which have been overrun by armed groups.
If successful, the U.S.-DRC minerals agreement could signal a turning point in both investment patterns and regional geopolitics, with the potential to reshape the power dynamics of Central Africa’s resource economy.
